2008 Woodie Awards
Mules Baseball splits four
Matthew Howard
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports
The Muhlenberg Baseball Team split four games over the past week. Both victories featured extremely strong pitching performances as the Mules shut out both opponents. Sophomore pitcher Phil Cresta improved his shutout streak to 20 1/3 innings and was rewarded by being named Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week.
On Tues., Apr. 15, the Mules extended their winning steak to five games with a 16-0 shutout victory over Ursinus. Cresta continued to baffle hitters with his seven shutout innings. He allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out six. The fifth inning provided the Mules with seven runs. Junior Jon Kalis hit a two-run triple and freshman Bobby Spindler added an RBI double that inning. The 16-0 victory was the largest shutout victory for Muhlenberg in 22 years.
On Apr. 18, the five game winning streak was snapped by a deflating loss to Ursinus in extra innings. With two outs in the ninth, the Mules held a 5-3 lead. An error extended the inning and proved to be important. The next Ursinus batter hit a two-run homer to send the game into extra-innings. The Bears put up a run in the top of the tenth to take a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately, the Mules failed to score in the bottom of the inning and the five game winning streak was over.
Sophomore Dan Fisher hit his first career home run in the second inning to give the Mules a 3-0 lead. Junior Eric Hammond had three hits including an RBI triple.
The next day the Mules had a double-header at McDaniel. With Cresta going to the mound in the first game the Mules had a boatload of confidence. As advertised, Cresta did not disappoint. His six shutout innings extended his road scoreless streak to 28 innings. In the third, junior Christian Conti provided Cresta with all the runs he would need with a two run blast. The home run, the ninth of the season for Conti, tied a 28 year-old school record for home runs in a season. Two more runs would score on RBI singles from Spindler and Fisher. The Mules took the first game of the twin-bill, 4-0.
"It's a beautiful day for a ball game…let's play two," the famous quote from Cubs great Ernie Banks was on the Mules' minds as they warmed up for the second game. Instead, the Mules could have used a rainout for the nightcap as they lost 23-12. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Mules held a 12-6 lead. Unfortunately, McDaniel managed to score eleven runs in the bottom half. One inning later, the Mules gave up six runs and the game was far out of reach. Conti hit a three RBI double in the game to send him over the 50 RBI plateau for the season.
Muhlenberg sits in fourth place in the Centennial Conference with an 18-15 overall record and 9-7 intra-conference record. With four games remaining, the Mules hold the final playoff spot with a one-game lead over fifth ranked Ursinus. Come out to support the team as they host Susquehanna on Apr. 25 at 4:00 p.m.
On Tues., Apr. 15, the Mules extended their winning steak to five games with a 16-0 shutout victory over Ursinus. Cresta continued to baffle hitters with his seven shutout innings. He allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out six. The fifth inning provided the Mules with seven runs. Junior Jon Kalis hit a two-run triple and freshman Bobby Spindler added an RBI double that inning. The 16-0 victory was the largest shutout victory for Muhlenberg in 22 years.
On Apr. 18, the five game winning streak was snapped by a deflating loss to Ursinus in extra innings. With two outs in the ninth, the Mules held a 5-3 lead. An error extended the inning and proved to be important. The next Ursinus batter hit a two-run homer to send the game into extra-innings. The Bears put up a run in the top of the tenth to take a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately, the Mules failed to score in the bottom of the inning and the five game winning streak was over.
Sophomore Dan Fisher hit his first career home run in the second inning to give the Mules a 3-0 lead. Junior Eric Hammond had three hits including an RBI triple.
The next day the Mules had a double-header at McDaniel. With Cresta going to the mound in the first game the Mules had a boatload of confidence. As advertised, Cresta did not disappoint. His six shutout innings extended his road scoreless streak to 28 innings. In the third, junior Christian Conti provided Cresta with all the runs he would need with a two run blast. The home run, the ninth of the season for Conti, tied a 28 year-old school record for home runs in a season. Two more runs would score on RBI singles from Spindler and Fisher. The Mules took the first game of the twin-bill, 4-0.
"It's a beautiful day for a ball game…let's play two," the famous quote from Cubs great Ernie Banks was on the Mules' minds as they warmed up for the second game. Instead, the Mules could have used a rainout for the nightcap as they lost 23-12. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Mules held a 12-6 lead. Unfortunately, McDaniel managed to score eleven runs in the bottom half. One inning later, the Mules gave up six runs and the game was far out of reach. Conti hit a three RBI double in the game to send him over the 50 RBI plateau for the season.
Muhlenberg sits in fourth place in the Centennial Conference with an 18-15 overall record and 9-7 intra-conference record. With four games remaining, the Mules hold the final playoff spot with a one-game lead over fifth ranked Ursinus. Come out to support the team as they host Susquehanna on Apr. 25 at 4:00 p.m.